Everyone knows to call your trusted, local roof repair company when a tree falls on your roof, or when you wake up to a new, nature-made skylight that you never asked for. But wouldn’t it be great to know which subtle signs you could look out for that you really should call that roofing contractor TODAY, and not put it off until things get much, much worse?
Early Detection of Roofing Problems Saves You Money and Stress
Regular roof maintenance and timely roof repairs can save you thousands of dollars and many sleepless nights. When you detect a small problem that you think might be related to your roof, don’t delay — call and have it looked at. If it is the start of a problem with your roof, taking care of it right away can significantly minimize the damage. Roofs don’t repair themselves, and small roofing problems never stay small. Having a professional roofing contractor come out to take a look is the best strategy for keeping the costs down and keeping your roof intact.
Gutter Problems (Especially Ice Dams)
If you’ve noticed evidence of gutter issues — water spilling over the sides, rather than flowing down the downspouts; ice dams in the winter — you need to address these issues ASAP to prevent roof damage. If you’re like a lot of homeowners, and you noticed the problem with your gutters, but it took you a few weeks (or months, or longer) to take care of the issue, you should also have a roofer come out to check whether any damage was done in the meantime. Your gutters are one of the best protectors of your roof, helping to guide water off and away from your home, and allowing ice and snow to melt away rather than dam up underneath the edge of your roof. If your gutters aren’t working properly, your roof has possibly sustained some damage while you put off clearing out those gutters.
Skylight Issues
Leaky skylight? Skylight that gets foggy/misty when the rest of the windows in your house are fine? You need to have someone come out to look not only at the skylight itself, but all of the surrounding roofing surface. Skylights are notoriously problematic in terms of allowing water into your roof. Sometimes, this damage is evident in the area immediately surrounding the skylight — sometimes it shows up someplace else on your roof. Either way, an issue with a skylight can signal a significant area of potential roof damage. Have a roofing professional come out and take a look as soon as you notice the problem.
Suddenly Full Dehumidifiers
If you keep a dehumidifier running regularly in your home, whether in the basement, in a stuffy bathroom, or anywhere else, a noticeable change in the amount of water being collected is something you should take notice of. If this sudden increase in the water collected by your dehumidifier can’t be easily explained by something else, you should also consider a leak in either your roof or your basement. Don’t just assume that it’s fine — have someone come take a look to make sure.
Moss on Your Roof
Roofs aren’t meant to be mossy. Moss grows and thrives in damp and wet areas, and the slope of your roof, plus the gutters below, should mean that there isn’t enough wetness on your roof for moss to take root. So, if it has, something is wrong. Either your roof isn’t draining properly, or there’s a low/sagging area of your roof where damage has already been done and water is collecting. Moss on your roof should be seen as motivation for an urgent call to your local roofer.
Change in the Sounds of Raindrops
Obviously, if raindrops are falling inside your home, you’ll be calling a local roofing company right away. But, even if everything is nice and dry inside, pay attention to the sound those raindrops make on your roof. A noticeable change in the sound of the rain on your roof can mean that something is in need of repair — your gutters might not be functioning as they once did, or something up there might be allowing water to collect. Pay attention to those pitter-patter sounds, and give your local roofing company a call if something sounds different up there.
Call in a Pro Today to Address and Suspected Roof Issues
If you’ve noticed any obvious signs of roof damage, or any of these subtler signs, give a call to your local, trusted, roof repair company today. Worst case scenario, you’re nipping a major problem in the bud. Best case scenario, your roofer can put your mind at ease and let you know that everything actually is just fine with your roof. Either way, you’re heading off a major problem and giving yourself some significant peace of mind with just one call to your local roof repair company.
Here in Cincinnati, call us here at Harper Siding & Roofing. We have the decades of experience in how to tell a small problem from a big one, and we’ve got a proven track record of stellar service and top-notch work that has your friends and neighbors calling us again and again for their roof repair and roof replacement needs. We can help sort out these small problems before they become major headaches.